Improvement in combined wash-stand and bureau



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

HELEN MAR.

COMBINED WASH-STAND AND BUREAU. No. 186,143'. Patented Jan.9, 1877.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. HELEN MAR.

COMBINED WASH-STAND AND BUREAU. No) 186,143, Patented J'an.9,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

-.HELEN MAR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lMPROVE lYIENT IN COMBINED WASH-STAND AND BUREAU.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,143, dated January 9, 1877; application filed December 4, 1876.

open 5 Fig. 2, a front elevation of same witha portion broken away, and exhibiting the wash-bowl shelf partially drawnout; and Fig. 3 is an end view, showing certain modified features contemplated by the invention, or certain additions to the device represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

Like letters of reference in all the figures indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to unite, in one article of furniture,-a bureau and a wash-stand in such manner as to occupy no more, or even less, space than would be taken up' by both articles if made separately, and at the same time be neat in design, convenient to use, and

less expensive to manufacture; to accomplish all of which, the invention consists in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

The, commode-bureau is divided into two parts, A and B, one of which contains the necessary drawers, and the other comprises the wash-stand. The fronts of the two portions should be similarly ornamented, so that the improved article of furniture shall present a neat appearance, and, to a casual observer, look as if it were simply a double bureau or dressing-case. The hinged door 0 closing the opening in the end of the wash-stand section, has a towel-rack, D, attached thereto, which is located a trifle lower than the wash-bowl shelf within, so that it will rest beneath said shelf when the door is closed. Upon the in' teriorofthewash-stand sectionsuitably-formed horizontal cleats H H are secured, upon which the slides I I, sustaining either side of the wash-bowl shelf S, move freely back and forth. Upon the inner end of theslides the shelf L is secured, and there serves as a receptacle for soap-dish, &c., as well as a brace for the slides, keeping them in their proper position with re spect to the cleats E. This shelf is located above the plane of the shelf S to afford ample room above it for the rim of an ordinary washbowl, the body of which rests within the opening cut in said shelf to receive and hold it. The slides I I are grooved upon their inner faces to receive and hold the movable washbowl shelf S, and are provided with stops t, which, in conjunction with corresponding stops upon said shelf, prevent its complete withdrawal from the slides. Similar or equivalent contrivances prevent the slides from being drawn too far out of the stand. From this arrangement it is apparent that the wash-bowl shelf may be made equally as broad and as long as the interior of the stand, (save the room required to accommodate the slides,) and may be drawn out a convenient distance for use, and be easily returned, so that the door 0 may be closed when desired. A knob or handle, it, projects downwardly from the shelf S to facilitate its withdrawal, being located in such manner as not to interfere with the towel-rack D, and the door 0 is fastened by any suitable spring-catch or otherwise. Below the sliding shelf S is a half-shelf, V, designed to sustain some one of the wash-stand pieces, and to afford room beside it for the tallest pieces likely to be employed. The mirror M may rest upon a vertical pivot in order that it may be revolved horizontally, thus permitting it to be faced either toward the front or end of the dressing-case, as may be desired. It is also hung upon horizontal pivots in the usual manner, and for the customary purpose.

The space upon the top of the bureau or dressing-case usually allotted for one of the drawers may be conveniently utilized for a water-tank, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein E is the proposed tank, which should .be provided with a suitable valve, F, located over the position of the wash-bowl. The wash-bowl may also be provided with a discharge-opening at bottom, leading through a suitable flexible or other tube to the waste-bowl below. These additions will, of course, add somewhat to the expense of the article; but will be preferred by some on account of the semi-permanent character and increased conveniences conferred thereby.

To further add to the convenience and attractiveness of the improved article, I propose in some instances to elevate the same sufliciently to accommodate a drawer, G, beneath the whole for the disposition of slippers, brushes, shaving utensils, and what not.

When constructed in accordance with the several improvements above specified the article is exceedingly convenient, economizes considerable space over that usually occupied by the two pieces of furniture when separately disposed, forms a complete dressing-case at which the various preparations of the toilet may be completed without passing from one portion of the room to another, and admirably answers the several objects of the invention as previously detailed.

It is obvious that the wash-stand section may be located at either end of the bureau, and that the door 0 may swing in any direction, or be located in front of, instead of at the end of, the article without departing from the spirit of the invention. The top of the wash-stand section may also be hinged, so that the bowl may be reached without sliding it out. The commode may be lined with zinc, if desirable, and the whole structure mounted upon casters to facilitate its removal from one position to another.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In 'a commode-bureau of the character herein specified, the combination, with the sliding wash-bowl shelf mounted upon, and movable within, the sliding side pieces I I, of a door, 0, adapted to close the commode-section to conceal the contents thereof, and provided with a towel-rack, located beneath the level of said shelf, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The slides I I, grooved to receive the wash-bowl shelf S, and provided with the secondary bracing-shelf L, in combination with the horizontal cleats located upon the interior of the commode section, substantially as shown and described. a i

3. The herein-described combined wash-. stand and bureau, composedof the two sections A and B, the former containing the sliding wash-bowl shelf movable within the sliding side pieces I I, and provided with a door, 0, bearing a towel-rack, and the latter containing a row of drawers, the whole operating as shown and described. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoin'gl have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HELEN MAR.

Witnesses:

ARNoLDA RAND, W. A. H. BATES. 

